Ballina Fine Gael candidate Rouse outlines priorities ahead of election campaign

Hugh Rouse, as a new Fine Gael candidate for next year's local elections, has announced his commitment to advocating for the interests of young people and hard-working families in Ballina. With a focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by these families, Rouse aims to create an environment that fosters growth, resilienceand success.

As a Fine Gael representative, and past President of Ballina Chamber Of Commerce, Rouse recognises the importance of supporting entrepreneurship and job creation. Key priorities outlined in his campaign include:

1. Paving the way for seamless entrepreneurship: Hugh has been a member of Mayo County Council’s Business Enterprise and Planning Strategic Policy Committee for the last four years. This committee advises the council on the formulation, development and review of enterprise related policy. Hugh’s focus is on the promotion of policies that streamline the process of starting and growing a business. This includes reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, offering support at every stage of business development, highlighting the supports available through local enterprise boards and facilitating access to capital for aspiring entrepreneurs.

2. Empowering through education and skills development: Hugh strongly believes in equipping young people with the relevant skills and knowledge to thrive in all facets of life. Hugh will advocate for increased investment in education and support programs, promoting a strong connection between educational institutions and industry, and prioritising lifelong learning opportunities including adult education, retraining and highlighting opportunities available on existing resources such as the Local Enterprise Office and Springboard.ie.

3. Championing local economy and infrastructure development: Recognising that the success of young families in North Mayo is intertwined with the health of the local economy, Hugh supports measures aimed at fostering economic growth, increasing employment and attracting investment. This includes advocating for greater supports to incentivise business development, campaigning for significant improvement to our neglected road infrastructure, promoting the available industrial spaces in Ballina and promoting improvement to broadband in rural parts of the Municipal District.

4. Addressing the housing and cost-of-living challenges: Understanding the difficulties faced by young families in finding affordable housing and managing living costs, Hugh is committed to finding sustainable solutions. His priorities include increasing housing supply, improving affordability, and exploring innovative approaches to address the housing crisis while ensuring vibrant and inclusive communities. Hugh will seek to encourage the Council to support rapid refurbishment of vacant council homes, prioritising those on long-term housing lists while assisting potential home owners in understanding the existing government supports available to them.

Hugh Rouse added: “As a Fine Gael local election candidate in Ballina, I aim bring a fresh perspective and a deep understanding of the aspirations and struggles of young, hard-working families in business. I am committed to fighting for policies and initiatives that support their growth and provide an enabling environment for their success.

More information is available from hughjrouse@outlook.com.